ACCREDITATION - WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Simply that the school is endorsed by their accrediting bodies

Although almost all schools state that they are accredited by one or more professional organisations, it is important to recognise that there is no official accrediting body in the field of hypnotherapy. Many exist, but they are all private organisations.

Some of these bodies seek to indicate that they are the main or most important but the truth is that there is no yardstick, no criteria by which each of them are assessed. So it is impossible to surmise that one is any better than any of the others. A good association will ensure that they hold an annual conference and/or seminars, will have a journal, free registration on the list of their practitioners, and maybe even offer a free email address that indicates your membership/affiliation. They should also make their code of practice/ethics readily available.

The Professional Practitioner Course at this school is accredited by:

	The Association for Professional Hypnosis and Psychotherapy (www.aphp.net) APHP is a member organisation of UKCHO, (www.ukcho.co.uk) an umbrella body for hypnotherapy in the UK. Membership of this organisation confers automatic eligibility for entry on to the Public National Register of Hypnotherapists.
	The Hypnotherapy Association (www.thehypnhotherapyassociation.co.uk) The Hypnotherapy Association is also a member organisation of UKCHO. Like APHP, membership of this organisation confers eligibility for entry on to the Public National Register of Hypnotherapists.
	The National Council of Psychotherapists (www.natcouncilofpsychotherapists.org.uk) This is a creditable and very old-established therapists association in the UK

Benefits of Membership

There are several benefits associated with belonging to a good association: you will be on their list of practitioners which will enhance your credibility and they will usually be able to offer support and advice when you need it. They might have schemes with insurance companies that help you to get a discount; and they might also offer a free professional email address. In addition, if they have a journal and annual conference, along with continual professional training seminars, it will help you keep abreast of the latest developments in the field.

It is not possible to be listed on the National Register unless you are a member of one of the appropriate associations.

It is a good idea to investigate the website(s) of any association that you are considering joining - it will often indicate just how 'professional' that association is. There are a few listed here; being listed here does not suggest that they are the best or the only ones you should contemplate joining - remember each of them is simply a private organisation and is not any way more 'official' than any of the others whether or not they are listed here.

The Association for Professional Hypnosis and Psychotherapy (APHP)
The National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH)
The National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP)
The National Register of Advanced Hypnotherapists (NRAH)
The World Federation of Hypnotherapists (WFH)
The General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR)
The General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC)
The Hypnotherapy Society (HS)
The Hypnotherapy Association (HA)
The National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH) - in the USA